Services for autistic and aspergers syndrome sufferers in Sheffield

Back in 1999 when I was 23, I was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, a mild form of Autism, which means that amongst other issues I have very limited social skills, my personal skills are not what they could be, and I am also unemployed as a result.

 

Currently I get support fromThorne House services for Autism but they are based in Doncaster, not Sheffield although they do have an office on the Viking Lea estate up on the Manor.

 

My point is to raise awareness of the severe lack of Sheffield based services for people such as myself, because of ignorance by society and the government regarding the issue, key services such as personal support, respite facilities etc are nowhere near as widely available to those who need them as they should be, and the few facilities there are, as you can imagine, are funded by social services and are often not as reliable as they could be.

 

Would anyone like to comment on this? Also if anyone has questions about AS, or would like to contact me, you can talk to me on MSN Messenger at [email protected] or by email-ing me at http://mailto:[email protected]

 

Thank you for your time.

 

Oops! Silly me, I just typed all that out and just realised I posted it in the wrong forum!

 

Can a moderator please move it to the right one please?

Hi there. Moved it for you as requested.

Hi Rich

 

I don't know much about the condition myself but can Thorne house put you in contact with other sufferers.

Maybe they already do that but you came across with your thread intelligently and clear.

Try to put some of the quality you have in writing into your meetings with other people.

There are a lot of people who are very quiet who get a long with 'ordinary folk' if i can phrase it that way and there is people out there who can help you mix in.

Try to find work through the disability office who will put you in contact with your local jobcentre who are there to help your needs in finding employment.

Disabled people are and rightly so no longer discriminated when applying for jobs and you should not be unemployed because of it.

Hi Rich,

Perhaps you know already, but there is a social group for people with Aspergers syndrome, based here in Sheffield.

It is run by Nicki Thomas, who can be contacted on 0114 276 7757.

I hope this is useful!

 

Regards, John.

Hello Rich

 

I have a son diagnosed with ASD and am completely amazed at the lack of any support/services/help/advice we have received. Apart from a useful workshop at Rygate on behaviour there is very little help in school. I applied for a place at a playscheme for him (Snips) and the application form was like an exam sheet. That was three months ago - no reply.

It seems there are two ASD specialists for the whole of Sheffield - it's just not enough.

My son had several years of visits to child psychologists for mild behavioural problems and was thought to have Aspergers. Eventually we were told that he didn't have it, but did have some indicators. No real support during that time or since.

 

Interestingly enough, a lady has recently started work in our section who we have been told has Aspergers, and I believe that she has a support worker. Not sure where the support is from or how she got it, but I'll try and find out.

 

Have you spoken to your doctor about things. He should be able to give you some advice on possible local support services, although many are not clued up on the condition.

 

Best of luck.

Originally posted by John Moore

Hi Rich,

Perhaps you know already, but there is a social group for people with Aspergers syndrome, based here in Sheffield.

It is run by Nicki Thomas, who can be contacted on 0114 276 7757.

I hope this is useful!

 

Regards, John.

 

Actually I've been going to Nicki's group meetings for a couple of years now.

 

Although I did stop going for a while until recently, but that was their fault cos they stopped letting me know when the meetings were happening, nowadays if I know there's one due I ring Nicki and find out when and where it's all going to be happening.

 

For example I know there's one coming up at t' end of October/beginning of November, a combination Karaoke night/Fancy Dress do with a Haloween theme.

 

Is the Fancy Dress thread still around from a couple of weeks back? Might have a look if there's any phone numbers for such Mr Ben's up Crookes, cos I'm after a costume for the do, and I dunno how far in advance you have to order the costumes before you need 'em.

Originally posted by The Cycleracer

Hi Rich

 

I don't know much about the condition myself but can Thorne house put you in contact with other sufferers.

Maybe they already do that but you came across with your thread intelligently and clear.

Try to put some of the quality you have in writing into your meetings with other people.

There are a lot of people who are very quiet who get a long with 'ordinary folk' if i can phrase it that way and there is people out there who can help you mix in.

Try to find work through the disability office who will put you in contact with your local jobcentre who are there to help your needs in finding employment.

Disabled people are and rightly so no longer discriminated when applying for jobs and you should not be unemployed because of it.

 

Ugh, job centre?! No way, I've been down that route before and without going into too much detail as talking about it gets me all worked up, it was totally NOT appropriate for someone such as myself.

 

Too much pressure, you have to be looking for work 24/7 and to go for a shelf stacking job down at the Co-op in Hillsborough knowing full well I was over-qualified for it due to having almost every computing certificate known to man and then some, only to be told that very thing by the gaffer, is very humiliating, but the trouble, is that although I have qualifications from College and stuff, I failed most of my GCSE subjects at School, and in this day and age, even the poxy 2 quid an hour office gopher jobs you see in the Star on a Thursday require at least a C in GCSE English AND Maths.

 

I've since re-sat English and passed it with an A, but because I don't have a certificate which says I can do Maths, they don't even want to know me, despite the fact that although admittedly my written maths isn't too hot, I can do mental arithmatics almost literally with my eyes shut.

 

That sucks doesn't it?

 

Anyway I'll stop ranting now...

Originally posted by Cycleracer

Hi Rich

 

I don't know much about the condition myself but can Thorne house put you in contact with other sufferers.

Maybe they already do that but you came across with your thread intelligently and clear.

Try to put some of the quality you have in writing into your meetings with other people.

There are a lot of people who are very quiet who get a long with 'ordinary folk' if i can phrase it that way and there is people out there who can help you mix in.

Try to find work through the disability office who will put you in contact with your local jobcentre who are there to help your needs in finding employment.

Disabled people are and rightly so no longer discriminated when applying for jobs and you should not be unemployed because of it.

 

Although I dont know much about ASD not being a sufferer I can say quite categorically that you've got the wrong end of the stick about available facilities for disabled people, very few if any suitable arrangements exist in Sheffield. There are limited advice centres, eg no DIAL and the Disabled Forum down on the Wicker has been closed down due to lack of COuncil and other resources. Furthermore Sheffield Council staff are totally abusive about people suffering speech impairment including a wide range of motor disorders eg MS, aphasia and other stroke victims etc, etc etc

You may not be aware that Sheffield Hallam Uni has recently launched an Autism Centre, based on the Collegiate Crescent site. It is primarily a research and teaching centre, but on its website you can find links to various groups and services specialising in autism.

 

 

http://www.shu.ac.uk/theautismcentre/index.html

Freeman College has just opened in Sheffield providing further education for those aged between 16 and 25 who are unable to attend general further education college due to learning difficulties.

Originally posted by sheff_minx

Freeman College has just opened in Sheffield providing further education for those aged between 16 and 25 who are unable to attend general further education college due to learning difficulties.

 

Thanks but being 29 I'm too old for that.